224 PATHOLOGY OF PREGNANCY. 



always found abnormal in appearance. In one instance the portion of 

 the envelopes in the cornua was undergoing decomposition, having a 

 deep-red, congested appearance, followed later by a leaden-gray hue, 

 and exhaling a very foetid odour. Patches of the membranes were 

 destroyed, and small quantities of a muco-purulent matter were found. 



Treatment. — If the malady is suspected to be due to any one 

 particular cause, or if there exist predisposing causes, then the indica- 

 tions for the prevention or cure of this accident are obvious. The 

 atonic state which seems to favour the occurrence of infectious abortion 

 in or after certain rainy seasons, should be remedied by good food and 

 tonics — and especially preparations of iron. Tonics have been par- 

 ticularly serviceable when abortion was supposed to be due to ergotised 

 food ; though Zundel recommends the internal administration of 

 carbolic acid. In cattle-sheds where Cows aborted year after year, 

 Brauer has employed carbolic acid with the most marked success. He 

 gave it to Cows which were from five to seven months pregnant, by 

 subcutaneous injection in the neighbourhood of the flank, the dose 

 being two Pravaz syringefuls of a two per cent, solution.^ 



If, however, we admit the most common and efficient cause to be in- 

 fection or contagion — that abortion is due to the presence of a micro- 

 organism transmissible from an affected animal, or from something 

 which has belonged to it, to another in healtla — then the first and 

 fundamental indication is to remove or isolate the source of the 

 mischief. 



When, therefore, abortion occurs, and there is reason to believe that 

 this accident is in its nature infectious, the foetus and all pertaining to 

 it should be removed as promptly and completely as possible from 

 the shed or place in which the animal is located. The Cow itself 

 should also be removed — or, better still, the other pregnant animals 

 in the same shed should be moved away to another building — and 

 either kept altogether isolated, or at least away from all other pregnant 

 cattle, with a special attendant employed to look after it ; this at- 

 tendant should not go near the unaffected pregnant cattle, and the 

 excreta from the Cow should also be carefully kept out of their Avay. 



The shed in which the accident has occurred, and especially if it 

 contain more pregnant cattle, ought to be immediately cleared of 

 all manure and other matters of an objectionable kind, the drains 

 and the floor — particularly that of the stall which has been occupied 

 by the Cow — being thoroughly swilled with water, and sprinkled with 

 some good disinfectant ; the walls should also be lime-washed ; a 

 good layer of straw may then be laid down, and the cattle replaced. 



The shed should be kept clean and well ventilated for a number of 

 days, and the drains well flushed and disinfected. 



The animal which has aborted must also be at once attended to. If 



1 Wochensrhri/t fiir 71iierheilhmde und Viehznchf, 1884, p. 429. The adminis- 

 tration of this medicament has quite recently been brought forward again, and its 

 successful employment is reported in the North British Agriculturist for January 19 of 

 the present year. In this case a valuable herd was so haunted with the abortion plague 

 that it was about to be destroyed. Crude carbolic acid, in quarter-ounce doses, was 

 dissolved in sufficient warm water to make a mash, then the bran was added. The dose 

 was increased gradually to half an ounce. The mashes were given three tiines a week. 



It has also been recommended to give the acid (Calvert's No. 4) in quarter-ounce 

 doses, as above, carefully dissolved in one quart of warm, sweetened water, or in a bran 

 mash once or twice a week. 



This medication might be combined with Nocard's external treatment, mentioned above. 



